Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1887-02-12
81. YALRxFINA's OAR.
1oUn os the Customs which Will he OBJ
served Again Next Monday

M served Again Next Monday.
q 1rom the Chicago Inier Ocean.
ts 1t rs saia that fact IN natural history, 10
4 VII, that birdsin Southern Europe pair about
I tbc middle of February, IL the actual origin
( ~ the association OF sentiment with this date,
Ihere u no doubt that the custom Of sending
4 aSulentines can be traced in origin to prac.
Z ~ among the ancient Romans At the feast
~ ne Lupercalia, which was held ON the
p ~ Of February, In honor Of the great god
-, deriving Its name from the place where
~ - held, the Luprecal, socalied because II
q supposed TO be the spot where the four.
pe1d loster. mother OF Romulus and Remus
& no0intstered nOuri,hment to the little waits
r&ho names OF all the virgin daughters of
i! eano were put In box, and drawn there.
Il IN by the young men. Each youth was
$y0nd 70 offer gilt to the maiden who fell TO
NJ lot and 70 make her his partner during
4 time OF the feast No doubt this custom
S40 " She formation OF many life partnerships
y 80 was undoubtedly what sits practical
1naso1 desired. How this very secular
keom became allied TO the name Of saint
- enclher matter entirely.
Valentine was bishop OF Rome during
9 eAtrd century. He il reported to have
= man OF most amiable nature aud re-
11Eaole gtfts OF eloquence, 20 that he was
~ euccesaful In converting the pagan
4 nA1s TO Christianity. For this reason he
usAliy incurred the displessure OF the
z 0pogor, Marcus Aurelius Claudius, who
- and perseclted the little Christian
end ne was martyred by order OF that
k4oeoded. The date OF his death was Febru.
IA ~ 20 A. ID. His bones are still exhibited
3N ne credulous traveller ct the Church OF ST
1xcdes, IN Rome. Pope julius erected a
e Arch 70 this worthy martyrs memory. and
p Gats leading to it which Is now ths Pcrta
~ hepolo was known for several Centuries
= y00 valentini
yohhishop Wheatley, In his illustrations
~ look OF Common Prayer, ssys that ST
e1nous for his love and charity that the
4 om OF choostng valentines upon this fes-
\ ~ (which ts still practiced) took Its rise
4 enence 1t Ii probable that the connec.
- name came from coincidence OF date
" hen the saint came to 10 placed In
+ u eoaendsr, his name was given 70 Tie dsv
g oeetns and this WAS made festival 10
u t1at OF the Lupercsl!s, on the 18TH
puuer, In his "Liyes OF the Saints"
- that the jealous fathers endsavored
T. 1oeutute the names OF sain f,r those of
& y this lottery, but without su cess.
EtAncis DC Sales OF Ger W, In the
leenth century attempted u similar re.
ofaering the drawing Of the names Of
ea0 noiy men whose virtues were de.
Nh o. Imitation. Since Initiating q saint
= r. moee difhcult task than dancing attend.
- pretty girl, we cannot be surprised
1 - innovation did not stake" among
UeuB u1ou OI Gen6va by some m0ana
1enge0m found its way into Great Britain
ooably Ceaar's soldiers introdu uced it.
va for many centuries In high favor
~ England and Scotland. We tind
1Hno OF It at ~ early date a. l446 and
times subsequently. II was called
aeeang valentinss;" probably becau.e
- Wae no choice In the matter Here the
- men ~ well - the young women
thar names on billets 70 10 drawn by The
oelte Sax Thus each had two Valentines.
80 which he had drawn, and the one 10
loe he had fallen, and we are told II
- custom for the young man to prefer
enemeF and 70 relieve himself OF the istter
glie Fortune having thus divided
eoMpany into couples, It was expected
tne young men would devote themssiyes
oettsan length OF time TO attendance Oh
@eAaens given them, "a sport which
enos IN love-" an old writer ssys 80 as
~ be expectsd." Indeed, mstYirnonv
1s DO chosen by the young msn from
1yes of economy, for he was expectei IN
avian OF gifts TO his Valentine" Msnv
customs OF medievL and later timss
p noted, all having this large sdmix.
g osntment which. uuquestionsbly OF
secular, even pagan origin. has be.
ecotdsnt allied In name 10 8 holy
~ churuh.